Monday, January 9, 2012

Raiders of the Lost Ark, part 6 - the Third Reich Vexillum

Indiana Jones infiltrating the Nazis
Indie is facing us, the Nazis are facing away

The term vexillology originates from a specific type of flag that was flown during the Ancient Roman Empire - the Vexillum. A Vexillum is a specific kind of flag that is carried from a cross bar, to keep the face of the flag unfurled. Modern rectangular flags are dependent on the wind to keep the face of the flag open. When there is no wind a modern flag can be easily mistaken or misidentified.

Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981 used proper vexillums to represent the antagonists. Nazi vexillums are shown when they shuttle the Lost Ark of the Hebrew Covenant to a mountain altar.The Ark of the Covenant is the key point of the holy of holiest in Hebrew Custom. It was a source of power, protection, and wrath of the divine. In its most modern and most powerful portrayal it, the Ark of the Covenant is ironically shuttled to a remote Greek Isle by a team of Nazi Archeological Researchers.

The Ark of the Covenant is under the Purple Linen


They are successful in opening the Ark and seeing its inner spiritual splendor, but there are harsh consequences for their actions. But before they are privileged to witness the supernatural phenomena reveals itself to them, all of the electronic recording devices are magically disabled. In the picture below the modern technological electronic equipment is rendered useless by some kind of supernatural means.

Notice Third Reich Flags on cross banners
the recording devices are extinguished by the Ark, before revealing its glory





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